to think perhaps this family could have done something differently?

[thinneratforty]

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/11/family-living-in-tentTheir rent seemed really low. And is 'going out' enough of a reason to move into a tent? We never go out either or have much left after the bills are paid, but would still rather stay in a nice warm house.

soverylucky - yes it does give the impression it's a lifestyle choice rather then a necessity.

What I don't understand is why didn't they make this lifestyle choice in the spring? Although I suppose it is the best test, doing it in the dead of winter.

Part of me is jealous of them; the other, much larger part, is remembering our week's camping in the pouring rain last July in France.

awesome but then Ive done travelling and been to the Teepee village in Wales 20 years ago before it got 'gentrified'
They are warm and cosy and loving parents. Sounds great and laid back to me.

DSis3 lives in a yurt in the very northermost part of the US, where it is far far colder than it gets in the UK (think -20).

She is ttc. But I suppose she should have her baby taken away for the crime of living pretty much like everyone will have lived throughout most of human history.

ffs, central heating is not a necessity and it is hardly child abuse to keep your child warm with a woodburning stove. As for the candles - how do you think most people for most of English history lit their houses in winter???

I think there will be a book coming out in a few months

We went camping in November 2 years ago, ok so it wasnt minus 7! it was bloody cold though. DS1 slept in my Dads heated caravan, me and DS2 slept in an unheated tent. During the day we had use of a barn with heaters in, the tent was far warmer than the barn! We also camped a few easters ago in the snow. In normal unheated tents. We were fine!

I'll admit that as much as I love camping, I wouldn't want to live in a tent, but if they are happy then so be it!

Oh yes Teepee Valley near where I grew up where people have been living like this for over 20 years without needing to write articles for the Guardian. My dad used to be Teepee valley's postman, maybe I could sell his memoirs to the Guardian

Perhaps I should have been taken into care with my brother and sister? We had a tiled roof and walls but we also had ice on the inside of the windows, drafts through every ill fitting window and wrapped up in thick duvets, blankets and pyjamas at night. We loved everything about our beautiful, old cottage surrounded by fields and trees but having spent a week in a Mongolian ger in their freezing winter I know which was warmer

They are not claiming benefits so surely people will be pleased about that.
They sound like they love the baby and take care of her. The baby will have lots of interesting stories about her childhood to tell when she is older. Not everyone grows up in a average family, in a perfect house etc etc. It will teach her to not take things for granted and she won't be materialistic.
I think I would love that kind of lifestyle

Haribos yeah but when I consider that my sister gets up before dawn to carry water and food to her oxen in subzero weather I start feeling all suburban again, you know

That child will probably grow up living on organic veg, with few unnecessary anti-bs and other drugs, and lots of fresh air/ running around. She is far less likely to be obese/ depressed/ succumb to peer pressure.

Right, I think we need a hippy smiley.......

They're in the west country. It's not that unusual around here to live in a tent or yurt. Actually was looking at something the other day that offered free tent or yurt accommodation in exchange for 2 days work a week.

Still lots of new age travellers living in all sorts in all weathers without electrcity and running water. Tis fine

Yanbu to think they COULD do something differently but YABU to think they SHOULD!!

So bloody what? We don't all to do the house-job-car-labrador identikit life.

Sounds like they are happy with their situation, it's just that they seem a bit muddled in their thinking. They are saying it's a temporary measure while they save up to build their own house, fair enough, other people move in with parents or similar while saving up so that's not so unusual, but he gave up his job so I can't imagine there's much saving up going on here. I feel a bit sorry for the farmer who has been good enough to let them stay, probably persuaded by the 'only temporary' plea, who is no doubt still going to be sharing his toilet and looking at their increasingly grotty tent in five year's time.

Where are the pics? all I can see is the stove thing.